Mobility of core water in Bacillus subtilis spores by 2H NMR.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial spores in a metabolically dormant state can survive long periods without nutrients under extreme environmental conditions. The molecular basis of spore dormancy is not well understood, but the distribution and physical state of water within the spore is thought to play an important role. Two scenarios have been proposed for the spore's core region, containing the DNA and most enzymes. In the gel scenario, the core is a structured macromolecular framework permeated by mobile water. In the glass scenario, the entire core, including the water, is an amorphous solid and the quenched molecular diffusion accounts for the spore's dormancy and thermal stability. Here, we use (2)H magnetic relaxation dispersion to selectively monitor water mobility in the core of Bacillus subtilis spores

SUBMITTER: Kaieda S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3824542 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature